Thomas m



PM. WESTON.

SOH. PREPARER AND CULTiVATOR. APPLICATION men JAN. 13,1919.

1,3CV1:,838n v v Patented May 27, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

T. M. WESTON.

SOIL PREPARER AND CULTI VATOR. APPLICATION FILED JANI I3, 1919.

1 304,838. Patented May 27, 1919.

2 8HEETSSHEET 2.

ill

exposure necessary to kill them.

-' UNITED STAT rarnntr oFrIon.

THOMAEl m. VJ'ESIKON, 0E CHICAGO, ILIDIEI'OIS.

SUIL PREPAREHZ AND GULTIVATOR.

incense.

Specification of Letters Eatent. Patented HIE Ly 2'3. 191%}.

Application filed-January 1s,' was. Serial No. 270,827

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that l", THOMAS lil. Nnsron. a citizen of the United States, residing at t. e city of Chicago, in the county of Joolrand State of Illinois. have invented. certain new and useful Improvements in Soil Preparers and Cultivators, of which the following is a specification. i

This invention relates to improvements in a machine or apparatus to be used for preparing and pulverizing the ground or soil for seeding and for cultivating ,crops of certain kinds, and it consists-in certain peculiarities of the construction, novel arrangement and operation of the various parts thereof as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifical] y claimed.

As is well known to those skilled in the art to which my inventionpertains, it is desirahle to fwork or prepare the soil or ground previously to seeding or planting the same, to, a considerable depth. (at least far enough to allow the plant roots to get below the drought line), by thoroughly cutting-up, stirring and pulverizimg it, and

that this has heretofore generally loeen done.

by first plowing, and subsequently harro'w ing with disk and tooth harrows. This method manifestly is slow, laborious, expen sive and unsatisfactory, as, when a tooth harrovv is employed, the roots, weeds and grass, gathered thereby are usually deposited i u heaps and are thus prevented the The same result occurs when disk harrows are em ployed, as the roots, grass and Weeds are more or less covered and packed down by the dirt tlu-oivn by the disks.-

The objects of the invention are u'xaniit'olrh and among them is, to provide a soil. .pre part-er or worker and a cultivator combined iuonc machine, which shall be simple and inexpensive in construction, strong, durable and ellicient in operation and with its so made and arranged as to be operahle by a single operator riding on the machine. Another and very important ob ect to pro vide an. apparatus of the above named gem eral character in. which the primary cutters and secondary cutters or tiulverizing men hers for the SO-ll are given rotary movement and leverage by means of power imparted from the carriage or traction wheels of the A further object is to provide means for breaking. up or cutting and pulmachine.

end, that the primary cutters will be freed in their operation from clayor sticky earth, and the re cutters or pulverizers from roots grass and Weeds, in such a manner that they will be left exposedand subsequently killed by such exposure. A; further object is to provide means whereby the primary cutters and the ,condary or re-cutting members may be operated in conjunction with one another or independently and so that sec tions of the primary cutters can he used in the act of cultivating between rows of plants.

Numerous other objects and advantages or the invention will be disclosed in the following description and explanation of the construction and operation. of the machine.

. In the accompanying drawings which serve to illustrate an embodiment of the invention- Figure l is a plan view of the complete machine showing" its parts in the operative posit ons;

Fig. 2 is a' view in side elevation with one of the traction or carriage wheels removed. illustrating by dotted lines positions to which the cutters and their carriers or frames may be raised and maintained;

Fig. 3 is a face or side View of one of the cutters showing a means of securing it on its rotary shalt,

4 is an edge view thereof;

Fig. 5 is a view partly in s ation and partly in elevation of the lower portion of one of the controlling levers anda part of one of the shafts used for raising and'lowering the frames or carriers for the cutters and pulverizers;

Fig. 6 is. an enlarged vertical sectional View of one of the clutchmechanisms employed for throwing the machine into and out of operative position; and

. shape and may he made of any end 18, which are spaced 211321 ing ratchet wheels of the mising 111g i'i'iechenismis for the eutteie and, pulvee Fig. 7 is a detailed view 01 front part of one of the triers for the cutters or pulyerizing members showing s means for detechnhly more ting it on its supporting; shaft.

Like numerals of? reference responding parts throughout views 03? the drawings lief lill'lg new to l 1 f2 and (l oi? drawings, the reference numeral 10 d refer to corthe v,

.nates the main or supporting frame ei' toe machine, whieh frame is rectangular in suitable size and material. This frame has near its rear end a cross her 11, which is provided tween its ends with forward, e :tensions i sluiwii sun, "for the support oi? pen 5 used for and lowen izing members. The frame 10 is supported near its front end by means of a driving sha'ft or axle 1.4: on each, end er which is mounted a traction wheel 15., each of which has surrounding the inner'portion 0i i [s huh a disk 16, haying near its periphery on its inner surface notches 1? er iged in eireuleirow. The disks'lfi' are secured by means of eli s 18 to the spokes of the ui disks Will i them to slide on the shaft, but Will causethem to turn therewith. 1 limisely surrounding the inner portion of the hub of each or the disks 20 is a collar to which is P'iVC-ik elly secured the ends of a, yoke 24%, which strides said collar and has an upwardly e:-;--

tended arm 25 each of which is fulcrumed' on e limclmtQG moiimteil on th side mils of the main frame. The upper end of each of the arms luisIpivotelly connected therezit onpowhieh to a link 27, each of which us site end it longitudinal slot 28 throu is extended a pin 29 carried by is one of which fulcrumed on the resin i 10 near each of the hreclmtsfli end ulon 'side s segmental rack 3L with each oi wh 1h 2' dog 32, carried by each of the levers 30 engages. Each of the dogs 1s actuate l spring surrounding the same and i at one end against a collar en the at its other end again-t jeetion on. th le aperture a rod '36 0 along the lever to nee ii it pivotully' eon e v. 1 37, which pivo i plu i v e on spring supports 39 and i ended upwznrdly and renrwerdly from the pr tion of the frame 10 to which mi'toli the fruane traction engine a team h or other motive or propelling power may be connected in any suitable manner. moving the levers upwardly ;i"'; 1n the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 6 of alrn wings, it is manifest thiit the clutch members 26 will be thrown out of engagement with the clutch members or disks 16, in vhich positions they will he held by reeof thedogs or pl'ung'ers 32 engeging the J ii hen so positioned it is obvious Let the lllQfilliLlll-Slll of the machine will he tl'nini'vn out of nu and that the apparatus may he lliitll ed. from one point to on i it 1e mechas desired to throw b i m h'y pressii'ag the grins-t e! tewerd the s 30, the (logs or plunge i l iis e jaged :ii'roi'n the reeks 3 1, in

n springs 41 surrounding the between the disks E20 and the i l. shaft, 'Wlll cause the disks i members 20 to en 'e e the members L 1 n throwing tne mechanism into gear.

sely mounted on the frame 10 near e ere a pen? 0% per llel shafts '43 -l, tee tor 'ier of which h s rigidly thereon it plurality of pulleys 4-5, three oi such pulleys m the s 4:

sur one 0i Which is located {new teeth the sent 38. The shaft 44- has Hlly 5 46, two in the present instance. Mounton each of the shafts 413 and 4% near Ti GU. enough to the seat .38 to be readily reached by the operzitl'or is :1' raising and lowering for the primary and secondary cutters J levers are indicated by the numerals loosely mounted on its respective shaft and is held against Slltllble movement in one direction thereon by means of a collar ell fixed to its short Q11 the oeposiiie side it each of said levers is fixed to its shaft e diiccnon hyzi pawl 5 one of which is nuiu'nted on each of the extensions 12 and 13 the vross he]: 11 of the main frame. The lover 4? and are equipped with dogs or ers Bil, springs 33, rods 36, grips 37, of

:1. runner construction and like operation to that shown in Fig. 6 and above described.

il onrneled transversely on the main frame 16" in front of the driving shaft or axle 14 and in 'pa-rellelisn'i therewith is a jack shaft io-unted thereon a plurality of .ieh engage gears of a larger I .ounted on the driving shaft rardly of the sides of the main minted on the shaft 51 between i. which 4. and 518 respectively. Each of these. levers wheel 4-9 which iscontrolled in line mounted thereon a plurality pulthe pinion 52 and-the side Walls-ct frame is a sprocket Wheel 5.4.- ov which is extended an endless 55, Which chains also pass over sprocket Wheels 56' mounted on shafts 57 and transversely journaled on carriers or 59 on said shafts. Each of these train carriers is substantially rectangular in snaps and have a pair of forwardly extended bars 60, which are upwardly curved. near their front ends so as to overlie the shaft 14: and so that they may lie-loosely and detachahly fixed at their front ends to the jack shaft 5...... To perform this the front end of each of the bars 60 is provided With a separable hearing: consisting of an upwardly curved portion (31 integral with the bar, and downwardly curved member 62, which is fastened to the their front ends to the driving shaft M bar by means of bolts 63 and nuts.

Mounted on the drivlng shaiit or axle 14.

are a plurality of rectangular frames -l, each of which has a forwardly extended prothe same manner and by similar means the arms to the shaft 51. As shown Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the "trap:

are located side by side and extended down-- wardly, and each of said frames has trans versely jmirnaled'thereon a shaft 6.8, which shafts are mounted in alinement With one another and constitute the sectional primary cutter carrying shaft. ll lounted on each of the sections ()6 of the primary cutter shalt are a plurality of cutters 6? which. are in the form of the blades of a motor heat or air craft; that is, said blades or cutters are slightly pitched. at an angle to the shaft on which they are mounted, or have'a helical curve or twist from the shaft outwardly. These blades or cutters are secured. to the shafts 66 by means of a pair of plates 68, one of which is located on each side or he cutter, and said plates are secured 'tl'icrcto by means of rivets 69 or otherwisr-n The plates 58 are keyed. to the shaft on which. they are mounted and are further held in position thereon by means oi collars 70, one of Which-is located against each of said plates, and said collars may he held n position on the shaft 66 by of s "3 screws 71, as is clearly shown in and i oi? the drawings. The cutters 6? of the primary cutting shaft are located. at angles to one another, as is clearly shown in Fin. 9 at the drawings, and are spaced at suitahle dis tances apart. On each ofthe sections (36 is mounted a sprocket Wheel 3T2, over each which a sprocket chain 73 is passed, which also pass around sprocket wheels 7e: moun'lml on the drive shaft at proper p" in 3. of the sprocket Wheels 1") on th l cutter shaft. The shafts 57 and 5? the secondary cutter l mounted thereon cutters ct sprocket chain frames is a 31 cits? structicn as the cutters ill on the primary cutter shaft described, and the same are secured in position on the sections 57 and so i; a like manner. However, the pitch of the cutters ill on the secondary cutter rotary movement thereof pointed as at 75 f A I 1 l x 2, d an l 4 oi the drawings), Each.

mes as on the lower end oi; each an upwardly and rearwardl"' extended arm at, which. are connected at their upper ends by means of cross bars '37, each of which hare has mounted thereon a series "n t -auers.78, which are located bers t3? and in such positions as l in the-revolution of said s i'ieasz' the shafts on whichthey ar "annulledx Each of the cleaners '?8 has its: free d provided with. a lip or curved portion '7 to detlc t them from the cutte or so as tov revent t 1e cutters strikto conta at "l: cutters at 1101 ir. ends abruptly or abutting anal the Each of the Irames .59

has at the ion end of each of its sides an upwardly e'steinied arm 80, which are united at their upper ends by cross bars 81., which. bars are equips d with spring cleaners 78 of the same ccns' cticn the cleaners 78 used in cox s ction with the primary cutters and ahcre described. The cleaners 78 on the frames of. the primary cutters act against the surf s oi? the cutters 67 in such a Way as to remove clay and sticky earth therefrom, and the cleaners 78 of the secondary cutters act against the surfaces of the said cutters to ove grass roots, Weeds and other accinnn' .tions therefrom, Connected ids to each of the cross bars 1 frames 59 is va chain 82,

l 1 -oconnected at its front end 1 f on the shaft M, which shaft can no operated oy the lever 48 in such a nuance: as Wind the chains 82 on the pul- "h'u's elevating the frames and the tits or sections 5? l which yr Conner-mid at one of their ends to oi? the cross bars 7'? oil; the primary cutter chain 83, each. cfiwhich passes over a pulley S4; and has its front end connecl'cdto one of the pulleys 45 on the shaft {543, which shaft can be operated in the pro; 31- manner by inieans-oi. the lever 4:? and connections "with said shaft to cause l. ;c chains to he Wound on pulleys 45 and thus v lrames G l and the sec primary cutter shaft to position. .Cl'he pulleys are itahle brackets 85 on the upcross lcar ll oi the main by reason of the arrangement of the gearing for said'shafts the prilnary cutter shift will. be rotated at a higher speed than that of the driving shaft, and that the secondary cutter shafts or sections will be rotated at a higher speed than the. primary cutter shaft.

The operation of the machine is simple and as follows: Assuming that the clutch members 20 are in engagement with the clutch members or disks 16 of the traction wheels, and that the machine is located :in a field in position to begin operation, it is manifest that by driving the machine forwardlyqwhich as before stated can be done by means of any suitable motive power, the cutter shafts can be lowered through the instrumentality of the levers 4-7 and 48, and the mechanism connecting them to the frames of the rotary shafts, so that the cut ters 67 may enter the soil or ground. to the desired depth, when the primary cutters will cut in a spade-like operation the soil and throw it to one side of the cutters, while the secoi'idary cutters will recut and thoroughly pulverize the soil, in which operation the secondary cutters will carry up grass roots, weeds and the like, which will be re-;

moved from the cutters by means of the cleaners 78 and cause them to fall and lie on the ground so that they will be killed by exposure.

When it is desired to use the machine as a cultivator the secondary cutters can be raised or, if desired, their frames can be detached from the jack shaft and removed from the machine when, by removing the alternate sections of the primary cutter shaft, -when there are more than three of such sections, or the middle one when there are only three, it is obvious that the remaining sections of the primary cutter shaft will cultivate the soil between the rows of the. plants or crops, which will be disposed, one of them. in the space from which the middle section has been, removed, while other rows will be located-on the outside of theremaining sections.

By my improvement it is apparent that I furnish a machine, which will perform the work 10f three old-style machines, that is, it will break up and finish the soil as it goes along in one operation, thus leaving it in condition for'seed, more thoroughly stirred newness and pulverized and to a greater depth than. has heretofore been done. I also furnish in the same machine a cultivator for hoed crops, such as corn, cotton and other crops 'that are planted in rows. Furthermore, by

my improvements I lift the work from the ground and place it on wheels, thereby getting a great advantage over the resistance of the ground by the use of the leverage of the. cutters and their speed.

Having thus fully described my invenlion what I claim as new and desire to sechi no.

2. In a. machine of the class described, the combination with a main frame, of a, drive shaft journaled thereon, traction wheels on said shaft, a plurality of frames movably mounted side by side on said shaft and extended downwardly therefrom, a cutter car rying shaft consisting of sections rotatably mounted on said frames and independently geared to the drive shaft for transmitting rotary motion to said sections fr-m said.

wheels, the alternate sections being detachably mounted on the machine, and means to raise and lower the said frames. 7

I In a machine of the class described, the combination with a main frame, of a drive shaft journaled thereon, traction wheels on said shaft, a jack shaft journalcd on the main frame and geared to the drive shaft, a frame movably mounted on the drive shaft and extended downwardly therefrom, a primary cutter carrying shaft transversely j'ournaled on the. last namedframe, means to raisc'and lower said frame and the shaft thereon, a frame movably mounted on the jack shaft and extended rearwardly of the primary cutter carrying shaft frame, a secondary cutter carrying shaft transversely jourualcd on said rear Wardly extended frame, means to raise and lower the last named frame and the shaft thereon, gearing uniting the primary cutter carrying shaft to the drive shaft, and gearing uniting the secondary cutter carrying shaft to the jack shaft. I

' 4.. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a main frame, of a drive shaft journaled thereon, traction wheels on said shaft, a jack shaft journaled on the main frame and geared to the drive shaft, a frame movably mounted on the drive shaft and extended downwardly therefrom, a prii aft journaled thereon, tractiorgwheelsi Mimi shaft, a jack shaft pure-alarm, name and gearedto the drive shaft, apri- .65 man; cutter carrying shaft conm'sting of a tended frames, means to raise and lower the named frame and the shaft thereon, gearing uniting the primary cutter carrying shaft to the drive shaft and arranged to impart rotary movement to the primary cutter shaft at a higher speed than the drive shaft, and gearing uniting the secondary cutter carryv ft to the jack shaft and arranged to cutter shaft at ahigher speed than-said prei'nary .shaft and in the opposite direction.

in a machine of the class described, the combination with a main frame, of a-drive shaft journa'led thereon traction Wheels on said shaft, jackshaft journaled on the main frame and geared to the drive shaft, a

framemovably mounted on the drive shaft and extended downwardly therefrom, a primary cutter carrying shaft transversely journaled on the last named frame, means to raise and lower saidframe and the shaft thereon, a frame movably mounted on the jack shaft and extended rearWa-rdly of the primary cutter carrying shaft frame, a secondary cutter carrying .shaft transversely journaled on said rearwardly extended frame, means to raise and; lower the last named frame and the shaft thereon, gearing uniting the primary cutter carrying" shaft to the drive shaft and arranged to impart rotary movement to the "primary cutter shaft at a higher speed than thedrive shaft, and gearing uniting the secondary cutter carrying shaft to the jack shaft. V

6. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with a' mainframe, of a drive shaft journaled'thereon, traction wheels on said shaft, a jack shaft journaled on the frame and geared tofthe drive shaft, a primary cutter carrying shaft consisting of a plurality of alined sections independently mounted on the? drive shaft, gearing uniting said sections to the drive shaft,..at least one of said section's being detachably mounted on said shaft, a secondary cutter carrying shaft consisting of a pluralityof aliucd' sec tions independently mounted on the jack shaft and located at the rear of said primary shaft, gearing uniting said sections and the jack shaft, and means to raise and lower said shafts. r

7. In a machine of the class described the pmhination with rotary movement to the secondary a main frame, of rr d'riv plurality of alii'ied sections independently mounted on the drive shaft, caring unitmg said sections to the drive sha .t and arranged to impart rotary movement to the primary cutter shaft at a higher speed than the drive shaft, at la st one of said sections being detachably mounted on said shaft, a secondary cutter carrying shaft consisting of a plurality of alined sections independently mounted on the jacir shaft and located at the rear of said primary shaft, gearing uniting said sections and the inch shaft and arranged to impart rotary movement to the secondary cutter shaft higher speed than the primary shaft, andv means to raise and lower said shafts.

a in a 1. acliinc of the class described the combii'iaticn with a main frame, of a drive shaft journaied thereon, traction wheels on said shaft, a jack shaft journaled on the and geared to the drive shaft, and a frame movahlyimounted on the drive shaft and extended downwardly therefrom and having cross bar supported thereon above its rear or lower portion, a primary cutter carrying shaft transversely journaled on the last named frame, means to raise and lower said, frame and the shaft thereon, a frame movably mounted on the jack shaft and extended rearwardly of the primary cutter carrying shaft frame and having a transverse bar supported thereon above its rear or lower end, secondary cutter carrying shaft transversely journaled on said rearwardly extended frame, means to raise and lower the last named frame and the shaft thereon, spring cleaners carried by the last named cross bar and co-a-ctiiig with the secondary cutters to clean the same, gearinguniting the primary cutter carrying shaft to the drive shaft, and gearing "unlting the secondary cutter carrying shaft to the jack shaft.

9, In a machine of the class described, the combineiion with a main frame, of a drive shaft journaled thereon, traction Wheels on said shaft, a jack shaftjournaled on the main frame and geared to the drive shaft, a plurality of frames mounted onfthe \drive shaft and extended downwardly therefrom, each of said frames having at its lower or rear end a cross bar supported thereon and above the same,"a'prin1ary cutter carrying shaft consisting of a plurality of sections rotatably mounted on said frames and independently geared to the drive shaft, at least one of said sections being detachably mounted on the machine, spring cleaners extended from said cross bar and co-acting with the said cutters to clean-"the same, a plurality of frames mounted. on the jack shaft" and can tended rearwardly of the primar'y cutter iee ten

last named frames and the shsdfts ther n gaming Uniting the secondary cutter (211T; ing shaft sections to the jack shaft and Swing cleaners mounted on the frames a secondary cutter shaft sections no a-c wlth the said cutfiors to 01mm the sauna In Witness whereof, have 31619 suiz 00k munty Illinois.

k I was this 9th day of Jammy. 1919,

STONL 

